Vallee’s Den of Antiquity is one of many quirky shops selling used items along Route 2 in Vermont’s Champlain Islands.

Photograph by: Andy Riga

On a trip to Vermont this month, we decided to make castoffs the point of the trip.

We went thrifting — visiting eclectic used-stuff stores (poor man’s antique shops) — on the Champlain Islands and in Burlington.

We found all kinds of treasures, and the kids — girls, ages 7, 10, 13 — enjoyed the adventure, not surprising perhaps since they could rummage through discarded books, toys, clothes and knitting and sewing supplies, and are generally curious types.

These stores are dusty, cramped museums of sorts, where kids can learn how the ancients lived, with their rotary phones, manual egg beaters and vinyl records.

Aside from saving money, used goods have obvious environmental benefits: you’re recycling, reusing and reducing the need for new items to be manufactured. And discarded stuff is often sturdier than today’s creations.

You can make the second-hand stores the destinations of your trip or pit stops on your way somewhere else.

Whether you’re an avid thrifter tired of local shops, new to treasure-hunting or looking for unique items to decorate your home, this north-to-south guide offers many quirky stops:

The Right Place (54 South Main St., a.k.a. Route 2, Alburg). http://ow.ly/nEPgC

Located in an old carriage house and spread over three packed floors, it’s presided over by a friendly and helpful owner. Everything from books to jewelry to hats to glassware are up for grabs.

This one doesn’t quite fit in with the others, but it’s worth a visit since tie-dyed is Vermont’s unofficial colour. In addition to new, inexpensive T-shirts, the store also sells good-quality used items that have been tie-dyed — T-shirts, shirts, jackets, sheets, pillowcases, even duvet covers. All the dying is done in-house.

Vallee’s Den of Antiquity (293 Route 2, Grand Isle).

It doesn’t look like much from the road, but it’s easy to get lost (in a good way) along this store’s dimly lit, rambling aisles. Make your way upstairs for an extensive book and magazine collection.

With many nooks and crannies to comb through, this place features an overwhelming supply of housewares and toys, plus a catchy name. You can’t miss it if you look for the canoe, snowshoes and wind-turbine blades fastened to the outside wall.

Granny’s Attic (322 Route 2, South Hero). http://ow.ly/nEPVm

Located in a 197-year-old building, this fundraising initiative supports local non-profits. When we stopped by, they were selling old street signs that the town recently replaced. The shelves are lined with all manner of goods, from movies to kitchen gear to fabric. It’s only open in the summer and only on Fridays (1 to 4 p.m.) and Saturdays (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Aside from the great name, this small store is full of character. The music section is divided into “good music,” “bad music,” “so-bad-it’s-good music,” “old music,” “very old music” and “weird music.” Descend the narrow stairs at the back to reach the basement clothes-and-bags section (you’ll find a fencer’s mask, a scuba-diving suit and who knows what else).

Salvation Army Thrift Store (336 North Winooski Ave., Burlington).

While in the neighbourhood to visit Junktiques, stop by the nearby Sally Ann for the big books and music sections.

Anjou & the Little Pear (53 Main St., Burlington). anjouvt.com

Higher priced than other places listed here, it’s an entertaining place to window shop. It focuses on furniture and items created by local artists and upcyclers. We spotted a postage-stamp vending machine from the 1950s.

A clothes shop dedicated to gently used and vintage clothes, it also features T-shirts by local artists.

Barge Canal Market (377 Pine St., Burlington). bargecanalmarket.com

Across the street from the Jean Exchange, it’s a big airy space packed with vintage goods, from old butcher blocks to letters from an old letterpress printing machine. Be prepared to spend a lot of time poking around here.

Opt for the Noyan/Alburg border crossing because it’s tumbleweed-quiet and it will bring you straight to the Champlain Islands, with Highway 2 taking you past all the island stops mentioned above. Get on Interstate 89 to Burlington. From Montreal, it’s about 100 kilometres to the Champlain Islands, and 160 kilometres to Burlington.

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